4-5.
PAPER POINT MOUNTS
a. The paper point mount is used as an alternate technique for the minuten pin
mount and is the preferred method for mounting small insects including mosquitoes.
Small paper triangles, or "teardrop" shapes, and an adhesive are the standard pieces of
equipment. The triangles may be punched out of 100 percent rag card stock (for
example, insect labels) with a paper point punch, cut with scissors to a suitable size, or
obtained directly from supply houses. Do not use index cards unless card stock is
unavailable. Index cards are too acidic a material and will degrade over time. Clear
fingernail polish is the preferred adhesive. An insect pin is put through the base of the
paper point. The left lateral thorax of the specimen is attached to the tip of the paper
point with a small amount of adhesive. (Too much adhesive may obscure the body
parts of the specimen, so as little of the adhesive as possible should be used.)
b. Since the point of attachment is the left lateral thorax, the view of the
specimen on a paper point mount is exactly the same as that of one on a minuten pin
mount. Figure 4-5 shows an adult mosquito mounted on a paper point. The
disadvantage of this mount is the necessity of obscuring one side. However, the paper
point mount is generally more stable than the minuten pin mount, and can be tube
mailed effectively.
Figure 4-5. Paper point mount.
4-6.
LABELING PROCEDURES FOR PIN MOUNTS
Labeling is important in the mounting procedure. A specimen that is not labeled
correctly is useless. Three standard labels are used on pin mounts. The labels are
made of bond or any other good quality paper and they measure one-fourth by one- half
inch. Data are written on the labels by using a fine crow quiII pen and India ink. They
are placed at increments of one-fourth inch on the insect pin in the following order:
MD0170
4-6